Rocket launcher



ct. 12, 1948. F. ASHWORTH ET AL 2,450,929

ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed Sept. 2 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 22 G8 14 A 13 Z110 62 166 x 1 16a J4 [771/672 fora Fred Ashu/orz h C/Ifislcr h/CartarBy i hcz'r/Hzarnc 06. 12, 1948. ASHWQRTH ETAL 2,450,929

ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed Sept. 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1- 1948. F.ASHWORTH ETAL ROCKET LAUNCHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 25, 1946Hed/Ishwori/z Cheszcrh/Carfer' B their-A2 tome Patented Oct. 12, 1948 HEdidaoo '1. LAUNCHER Application September 25, 1946, Serial No. 699,120

111 Chime.

This invention relates to rocket launchers, and more particularly to thetype of launcher disclosed in an application for United States LettersPatent Serial No. 683,674, filed July 15, l946,'in the name of W. V.Goodhue.

This type of launcher has a magazine arranged to hold a few rockets andfrom which the rockets are fed by gravity into firing position at oneside of and far enough from the station where the magazine is loaded topermit continuous loading while the launcher is in action. The capacityof the magazine, though small, is sufiicient to allow continuous firingby rapid fire in spite of any ordinary irregularities in the speed ofhandling of the rockets between the source of supply and the launcher.

An object of the invention is to provide a launcher having theabove-mentioned characteristics and which, in addition, affords themaximum protection to the operating personnel from the hazards of theblast from a fired rocket as well as from unintentional firing.

This object is furthered in the illustrated launcher by use oftube-mounted rockets, each rocket-unit comprising a tube havingelectrical contact bands on its periphery and a rocket inside the tube,the bands being electrically connected to a primer for igniting thepropellant in the rocket.

In order fully to utilize the advantages of this type of rocket from thesafety standpoint, the illustrated launcher comprises a firing-tubehaving associated therewith improved rockettube holding means,constituting a feature of the invention, by which a flash-tightconnection is made between the rocket-tube and the launcher just beforeand during the firing of the rocket. Thus, for purposes of firing, therockettube becomes a continuation of the firing-tube in which theinitial blast of the rocket is confined and directed rearwardly of thelauncher away from the operating personnel. This holding means isarranged when operated in one direction to control the advance of arocket-unit into firing position, the latter part of this movement beingutilized to cause the holding means to grip the ends of the rocket-tubein flashtight engagement as referred to above. When operated in thereverse direction, the holding means is retracted from beneath therockettube whereby the latter is jettisoned after the rocket has beenfired.

These operations, as well as the closing of the firing circuit, areeffected in the proper timed relation by operating means in whichinvention is to be recognized, all events in one firing cycle 'beingcarried out in response to a complete oscillation ofanoperator-controlled member.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of othermeans, under the control of the operator-controlled member, and havingthe dual purpose of holding the rocket-tube in firing positiondownwardly against the holding means and also cooperating with theholding means to prevent the advance of succeeding rocket-units towardthe firing position whenever the holding means is retracted to jettisona rocket-tube or a misfired rocket. H

These and other features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description and will be pointed out in the claims:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of an illustrative launcher embodyingthe invention, the launcher being viewed from a position ahead andoutside of it and at the level of its mounting upon the deck of anamphibious craft;

Fig. 2 is a partial rear elevation of the launcher as set at anelevation of zero degrees;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a rocket-unit of the type intended tobe fired from the illustrated launcher;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation of the portion of the launcher shownin Fig. 2 certain parts having been broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a detailed plan view of the blast operated latch for lockingand releasing the operating lever for the rocket-tube holding means;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation illustrating, partly in section, portions ofthe launcher adjacent to a rocket-unit in firing position; and

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating one stage in thejettisoning of a rocket-tube or a misfired rocket-unit and the advanceof the succeeding rocket-unit into firing position.

Referring to Fig. 1 the illustrated launcher comprises a magazine l0adapted to receive a plurality of rocket-units l2 which are advanced bygravity from the loadir; station at the upper edge of the magazine intothe firing position (the position occupied by the leading or lowerrocket-unit) where the rockets are fired one by one.

Each rocket-unit l2 comprises a cylindrical rocket-tube I4 (Fig. 3) inwhich is closely fitted a rocket IS. The rocket is held within the tubeby a pair of spring clips I8, and for firing purposes the propellant inthe tail section of the rocket is electrically connected to a pair ofcontact bands 20 which are insulated from each tively.

other and encircle the rear end of the rocket -v tube.

Each rocket-unit when in firing position is alined with a firing tube 22(Fig. 1) comprising forward and after sections 24, 26 which are fixed tothe magazine I8. Mounted on the inner ends of the sections 24, 28 arerocket-tube holdersv 28, 38 respectively which are operated to controlthe advance of the rocket-units into firing position and then to holdthe leading rocket in that posi-- tion with its tube I4 in flash tightcontinuation with the firing tube 22. The holders 28. 38 are operated tocarry out the above mentioned functions by swinging a lever 32 upward.In the final stage of this movement of the lever, a switch 34 (Fig. 2)in an electrical firing circuit is closed to fire the rocket in firingposition. Thereafter, the lever 32' is moved down with the result thatthe holders 28, 38 are moved from beneath the rockettube from which arocket has just been fired or to jettison a complete rocket-unit in caseof a 'misfire. The construction and operation of the lip 64 togetherprovide a socket for holding the forward end of the rocket-tube I'4 infiringv posit on.

. It is to be understood that the holder 38 is slimmetrical to theholder 28in respect to both construction and mounting. That is, theholder 38 has cam slots I8, a lip I2, 8. lip-extension I4 and rib 16which are exactly like the corresponding parts of the holder 28 exceptfor being oppositely arranged. Pins I8, similar to the pins 68, arefixed to the rear'section 26 of the firing tube and are received in thecam slots I8.

When the lever 32 is fully depressed the holders 28, 38 are positionedwith their lip-extensions 88, I4 in an elevated position (Figs. 2 and 7)where they hold a rocket-unit which engages them vertically above thefiring position. By raising the illustrated launcher which have beenbriefly out- 1 lined above will now be described in detail.

' The magazine-I8 comprises a latticed bottom 36 (Fig. 1), to theforward and after ends of which are fixed latticed end-plates 38, 48respec- A cover 42 (Fig. 2) is fixed to the upper edges of the endplates and closes the top of the magazine except for a narrow areaconforming I to the tapered upper ends of the. end-plates (Fig. 1).Rocket-units are loaded into the magazine through this opening. To theupper surface of the bottom 36 are welded rails 44 (Fig. 4) on which therocket-units roll under the influence of (gravity in their advance tothe firing position. since the launcher will usually be elevated(although it may also be depressed) the rocket-units are prevented fromsliding axially across the rails 44 by guide rails 46 which are fixed tothe bottom 36 and are spaced so as to receivethe rocketunitstherebetween with a slight clearance.

The downwardly and outwardly sloping portions of the magazine I8 leadinto a vertical portion which is closed at both sides by plates 48, 58(Figs. 1 and 2) the outer plate 48 being latticed. Both plates haverails 52 welded thereon for purposes of reinforcement and for directingthe rocket-units vertically into firing position. In this movement therocket-units are guided endwise by vertical guides 53 which are integralwith and continuations of the guide rails 46. The lower edges of theplates 48, 58 are further reinforced by having split tubes 54 welded tothem.

The forward section 24 of the firing tube 22 has a flange 56 (Figs. 1and 4) which is bolted to the end-plate 38, and a reduced collar 58(Fig. 4) which extends inside the end-plate 38 through an openingtherein. The holder 28 is mounted to rotate and slide axially on thecollar 58 under the guidance of a pair of pins 68, each of which isreceived in a cam slot 62 formed in the holder. The pins 68 are fixed tothe collar 58 diametrically opposite to each other. The inner end of theholder 28 has a lip 64 extending completely around it and having aninternal diameter sufficient to receive an end of a rocket-tube I4 withslight clearance.

A short extension 66 of the lip extends further v beneath therocket-tube for the purpose of preliminarily holding and positioning therockettube as will be further explained below. The

lever 32 the holders are rotated to lower the lipextensions and to bringthem beneath the rocketunit thereby to lower the rocket-unit and supportit in alinement with the firing tube 22. The holders 28, 38 are thusoperated by a pair of links 88 which are pivotally connected at 82 tolugs 83 on the holders. Each of the links 88 is pivoted at its upper endto one of a pair of levers 84, 86 which are fixed to a shaft 88. Thisshaft, to which the lever 321s also fixed, is mountedto rotate inbearings formed in the lower margins of the end-plates 38, 48.

Arms 88, 82 on the outer ends of the levers 84, 86 respectively arecurved concentrically with the shaft 88 and are adapted, depending upontheir position as will be explained below, either to stop or permit theadvance of the rocket-units along the rails 44 toward the firingposition. A plunger 84 which is backed up by a spring 86 is slidablymounted in the lower end of each of the arms 88, 82. These plungers holdthe rocket-tube in firing position down against the lip-extensions 66,1'4 when the lever 32 is fully elevated.

When a rocket-unit is in firing position, the contact bands 28 on therocket-tube I4 are engaged by a pair of terminals 88, 88 (Figs. 2 and 4)of an electrical firing circuit (not shown). The terminals are mountedon spring conductors I88 which are carried by a block of insulation I82fixed to the inner side plate 58. The conductors I88 are electricallyconnected in series with the switch 34 which has a plunger I84 adaptedto be engaged and depressed to close the switch by the lever 84 duringthe latter part of its downward movement. Thus, the rocket in firingposition is red in response to a complete upward movement of theoperating lever 32.

Just prior to firing, the holders 28, 38 will have been cammed towardeach other by the action of the pins 68, I8 in the cam slots 62, 18,respectively, to cause the ends of the rocket-tubes I4 to be firmlyseated in the sockets provided by the ribs 68, I6 and lips 64, 12. Aflash seal is thus established between the rocket-tube in firingposition and the firing tube 22.

For purposes of both directing the initial flight of a fired rocket andalso protecting the launcher and operating personnel from the initialblast, an extension tube I86 (Fig. 1) may be mounted on the forwardsection 24. As herein illustrated, this tube telescopes within thesection 24 and has a lug I88 which fits between a pair of similar lugs II8 on the section 24. A bolt I I2 extends through all the lugs and holdsthe extension tube I86 and the section .24 in assembled relation. Asimilar extensiontube I I4 may be fitted to the rear section 26 toinsure that the discharge of the firing tube will be exhausted into theopen air clear of the launcher.

In order to prevent the unintentional jettisoning of a rocket-unit orrocket-tube, a latch II6 (Figs. 4, and 6) cooperates with the forwardarm 84 to prevent the operating lever 32 from being lowered unless thelatch has been released either by the blast of a fired rocket, ormanually as in the case of a misfire. The latch II 6 is arranged to fitwithin a notch II8 (Fig. 6) in a boss I on the lever 84. The latch isalso pivoted at I22 (Fig. 5) to a lever I24 which is pivoted on theendplate at I26. A spring I28 compressed between the end-plate 38 andthe lever I24 normally urges the latch toward the lever 84; but after afired rocket-unit passes beyond the firing tube a pad I30 on the leverI24 is struck by the fringe of the blast and the lever is swung so as toretract the latch II6 from the notch H8 in the boss I20. At this point,a spring I32 fixed to the lever I24 and bearing upon the latch II6swings the latter about its pivot at I22 so that the end of the latchabuts the side of the boss I20. This movement of the latch is limited byits engagement with a shoulder 134 on the end of the lever I24. Theoperating lever 3.2 is now free to be moved and may be similarly freedby manual operation of the lever I24 in case of a misfire.

The latch II6 is re-engaged in the boss I20 by the action of aperipheral cam surface I36 on the lower side of the boss which strikesthe latch during the latter part of the downward movement of the lever84 and swings the latch about its pivot at I22 until the latch is alinedwith and snaps into the notch I I8 in the boss.

The launcher illustrated in Fig. 1 has been shown as mounted on the deckI38 of an amphibious craft adjacent to the port side I40 of the craft,its coaming being indicated at I42. The launcher may be elevatedthroughout a substantial angle as illustrated in Fig. 1 from a positionof a few degrees of depression, by turning a crank I44. To permit suchmovement of the launcher it is mounted to pivot about a shaft I46carried by a pair of lugs I48 which extend upwardly from a plate I50fixed to the deck. Below and fixed to the bottom of the magazine In is achannel shaped section I52 from the rear end of which there extendsdownwardly a standard I54 having two feet which are bored to receive theshaft I46.

The above mentioned crank I44 operates an elevating mechanism comprisingone screw I56 which is threaded into a second screw I58, the latterbeing threaded into a socket I60 the base of which is pivotally mountedon a shaft I62. 'Iihis shaft is supported by lugs I64 which are fixed tothe late I50. The upper end of the screw I56 (Fig. 2) is reduced to forma shoulder on which seats a swivel block I66, the block at one sidebeing mounted to pivot on a shaft I61 which rotates in a bearing I68carried by the section I52. A stub shaft I69 extends from the other sideof the block coaxially with the shaft I 61 and is received in a hole inthe section I52. The upper end of the screw I56 extends through the baseof the swivel block I66 and has a bevel gear. I10 fixed thereto. Asecond bevel gear I1I meshing with the gear I10 is fixed to the shaftI61. The above-mentioned crank I44 is received in a socket in the outerend of the shaft I61 and is fixed thereto by a taper pin I14. It is nowapparent that the launcher may be elevated by turning the crank I44 sothat the screw I56 turns out ofthe screw 458. When the limit of thismovement has been reached, both screws turn together untilthe limit ofmovement of the screw I60 out of thl socket I60 has been reached.

In summarizing the operation of the launchei it will be assumed that themagazine I0 has beer filled with rocket-units while the operating level32 is in. its uppermost position. The leading rocket-unit in themagazine rests on the rails 44 against the arms 90, 92 and in a positionto fall vertically toward the firing position when released by the arms.The lever 32 is next lowered to raise the arms 90, 92 above the leadingrocketunit (Fig. 7) and to permit the latter to advance toward thefiring position. As soon as the leading rocket-unit is-freed by the arms90, 92 it falls ontc the lip-extensions 66, 14 which at this time are ina well elevated position. The lever 32 is next raised as a result ofwhich the lip-extensions 66, 14 are gradually lowered, as they rotate,to a position directly beneath the rocket-unit and finally support therocket-unit in alinement with the flring tube '22. During the laststages of this movement the plungers 94 engage the upper sides 05therocket-tube I4 and yieldingly hold it against the lip-extensions withsufiicient pressure to insure the alinement of the rocket-unit with thefiring tube and the engagement of the terminals 88 with the contactbands 20. Also during this period the holders 28, 30 are cammed towardeach other to cause the ends of the rocket-tube I4 to be seated againstthe ribs 68, 16. Finally, the plunger I04 is operated to close theswitch 34 and at the same time the latch II6 locks the arm 84 and hencethe lever 32 against further movement. Assuming the firing circuit to beclosed at the usual local control switch at'the firing station, therocket in firing position will be fired upon the closing of the switch34.

The initial blast of the fired rocket will be discharged harmlessly fromthe end of the tube-extension II4 into the open air well behind and awayfrom the launcher and the operating personnel. When the rocket emergesfrom the forward tube-extension I06, the fringe of the blast will strikethe pad I 30 causing the latch II6 to be released from the arm 64. Thelever 32 is now free to be moved downwardly again, and when it is somoved the combined axial and rotative movement of the holders 28, 30causes the lips 64, 12 and the lip-extensions 66, 14 to be moved frombeneath the empty rocket-tube which falls under the influence of gravityout of the launcher. A rocket-unit which misfires may similarly =bejettisoned by lowering the lever 32 after the pad I30 has been manuallyoperated to trip the latch H6. When the lip-extensions 66, 14 closelyapproach their uppermost positions, the arms 90, 92 release the nextrocket-unit and permit it to fall onto the lip-extensions, ready to beadvanced in the firing position in the next firing cycle.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a launcher for tube-mounted rockets, a

firing tube comprising spaced forward and after sections disposed inalinement with each other, members mounted for movement on the adjacentends of said sections, each of said members having a lip for supportinga tube containing a rocket in alinement with said sections, each of saidmembers also having a shoulder adapted to engage an end of therocket-tube, operator-controlled means for rotating said memberssuccessively to move said lips under and then from beneath therocket-tube in firing position, and connections beshoulders into and outof flash-tight engagement with the ends of the rocket-tube in responseto ;he rotative movement of said members.

2. In a launcher for tube-mounted rockets, a iring tube comprisingforward and after sections vhich are spaced to receive a rocket-tubethereietween, members on said sections having shouliers and lips adaptedto engage the end and peipheral surfaces respectively of a rocket-tube nfiring position, operator-controlled means for 'otating said members tomove said lips beneath L rocket-tube in firing position and camconnecions between said sections and members for movng the latter towardeach other as they are roated to cause said shoulders to form a fiashseal with the ends of the rocket-tube.

3. In a launcher for tube-mounted rockets, a lring tube, rocket-tubeholding means associated vith said firing tube, and mechanism operable aone direction to move said holding means into lash-tight engagement withthe ends of a rocketube in firing position, said mechanism being perablein another direction to separate said lolding means from the rocket-tubewhereby the itter is permitted to fall out of the launcher by ravity.

4. In a launcher for tube-mounted rockets, a ring tube, rocket-tubeholding means carried by aid firing tube, said holding means havinganular shoulders defining-recesses adapted to reeive the ends of arocket-tube in firing position, nd operator-controlled mechanism forsuccesvely moving said holding means into engagement 'ith therocket-tube to establish a fiash seal be- ;veen the rocket-tube and saidfiring tube and ien removing said holding means from beneath 1erocket-tube whereby the latter is permitted to 1.11 out of the launcher.

5. In a launcher for tube-mounted rockets, a ring tube, a magazinethrough which rocket units dvance by gravity into firing position inalinerent with said firing tube, rocket-tube holding leans associatedwith said firing tube, said holdlg means having lips adapted to beengaged by re rocket-tube, operator-controlled mechanism Ir rotatingsaid holding means to cause said lips iccessively to control the advanceof a rocketait into firing position and to support the rocketriit inalinement with said firing tube, and means instructed and arranged toutilize the rotative ovement of said holding means to move the lat- -raxially of said firing tube into engagement ith the ends of therocket-tube, said operatormtrolled means being operable to reverse theJove-mentioned movements of said holding eans whereby the latter isseparated from the icket-tube and said lips are removed to one side therocket-tube to permit it to fall out of the uncher.

6. In a launcher for tube-mounted rockets, a.

in synchronism with their rotative movements first away from therocket-tube in firing position and then in the opposite direction togrip the ends of the succeeding rocket-tube in firing position.

7. In a launcher for rockets, a magazine adapted to hold a plurality ofrocket-units each consisting of a tube having a rocket mounted there'-in, a firing tube, holders for supporting a rocket unit in alinementwith said firing tube, means'for oscillating said holders from beneath arocketunit in firing position into the path of movement of thesucceeding rocket thereby to jettison the rocket-tube in firing positionand control the advance of the succeeding rocket-unit into firingposition.

8. In a rocket launcher, a magazine from which rocket-units are advancedby gravity into firing position, holding means'for supporting arocketunit in firing position, said holding means being mounted formovement from beneath the rocketunit in firing position to jettison thatrocket, mechanism for operating said holding means, said mechanismcomprising a member mounted for movement between a jettisoning and afiring position, a latch for locking said member in its firing position,and means operated by the blast from a fired rocket for releasing saidlatch.

9. In a rocket launcher, a, magazine from which rocket-units areadvanced one by one into firing position, holding means for supporting arocketunit in firing position, mechanism for operating said holdingmeans to release the rocket-unit 'thereon whereby that rocket-unit isjettisoned,

said mechanism comprising a lever mounted to swing between a firing anda jettisoning position, a latch cooperating with said lever to lock thelatter in its firing position, and latch-tripping means comprising a padarranged to intercept the blast from a fired rocket and disengage saidlatch from said lever.

10. In a rocket launcher, a magazine from which rocket-units areadvanced by gravity into firing position, holding means for supporting arocket-unit in firing position, a member mounted for movement intoengagement with the rocket-unit in firing position to hold thatrocket-unit against said holding means and then away from the saidrocket-unit, and connections between said member and holding means forretracting said holding means from beneath the rocket-unit in firingposition when said member is moved away from the rocket-unit.

11. In a launcher for tube-mounted rockets, holders for supporting atube containing a rocket in firing position, a magazine from whichrocketunits are advanced by gravity into firing position, said holdersbeing mounted for retractive movement from beneath the rocket-tube infiring position to jettison that rocket-tube and into the path of thenext succeeding rocket-unit in said magazine whereby feeding movement ofthe latter rocket-unit into firing position is prevented while saidholders are retracted, and operatorcontrolled means for operating saidholders, said means comprising a. lever, a link connecting said leverand holders, and an arm carried by said lever, said arm beingconstructed and arranged to interrupt the advance of the said nextsucceeding rocket-unit until said holders have been moved into the pathof the last-mentioned rocket-unit.

FRED ASHWORTH. CHESTER W. CARTER.

No references cited.

